The Three Loves of Charlie Delaney: Book Two

By Joey w. Kiser

It is a cold North Carolina morning in 1987 when twenty-six-year-old Charlie Delaney stops at a restaurant to quell his hankering for pizza and is greeted by the girl of his dreams. Redhead Karen Thomas is innocent, playful, and quickly captures Charlie's passionate heart. But there is only one problem: she is in love with another. Charlie, who is determined to win nineteen-year-old Karen's heart, devises an ingenious plan to rid himself of his rival, with help from a private detective who digs into Karen's past to find shocking secrets. As Charlie realizes Karen has transformed his normal existence into a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment, he becomes a self-confident man who has the power to overcome everything, including his own fears. Now in the throes of a full-fledged obsession, Charlie manipulates fate in such a way that Karen falls in love with him. Now all Charlie has to do is overcome his personal demons before he and Karen can move forward into the future together. In this continuing saga, a lonely man who finally meets his soul mate must use creative methods to realize his life's purpose and win her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491777398

Joey w. Kiser

Joey W. Kiser believes that we are All miracles of God’s creation. And we ALL have a divine mission, or missions to carry out in life. The true meaning of life is to carry out those missions. All we need is to have faith in ourselves and to believe in God. Joey W. Kiser lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

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Copyright © 2016 Joey W. Kiser.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-7740-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-8628-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-7739-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015917891

iUniverse rev. date: 1/08/2016

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Charlie's Second Love

Chapter 2 The Plot to Win Her Over

Chapter 3 Time to Build a Meaningful Relationship

Chapter 4 Just When Everything Was Going So Well

Chapter 5 Trying to Win Back Her Love

Chapter 6 She's Got to Stop Being Jealous

Chapter 1

CHARLIE'S SECOND LOVE

I t is one cold Monday morning in the northern part of North Carolina, January 1987, Charlie Delaney rides down the road in his truck. The previous week, he turned twenty-six. He has just started a new year that will transform his normal existence into a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

As Charlie drives down the road, he gets a strong urge for a pizza. He has just gotten off work, and he doesn't want to go home and cook anything. While passing a shopping center, he sees a Little Tony's Pizza. When the stoplight turns green, he whips his truck into the parking lot and parks. He eagerly proceeds to walk toward the little restaurant.

Charlie has never been to this particular pizza place before but is eager to try it out. He is so hungry he could eat a horse. As he reaches the restaurant and opens the door, he finds the place deserted but hears people in the back.

Hello! Is anyone here? Charlie calls out, waiting for someone to come out from the back. He is pleasantly surprised when a cute little redhead appears.

Looking at Charlie with a sweet, innocent smile, she says, Hello, sir. May I help you?

Charlie looks at her, dumbfounded. He just can't get over how beautiful she is. Yeah, you sure can. If you are on the menu, I'll take you as an order to go.

The girl blushes a little and says, No, I am not on the menu, but I'll be glad to fix you a pizza.

What's your name?

With the same shy, innocent smile, the girl replies, Karen. Karen Thomas.

Charlie. Charlie Delaney. You sure are real pretty.

Karen continues to smile. Thank you, sir.

Charlie notices that even her voice is soft and heavenly.

Please, don't call me sir; call me Charlie.

Okay, Charlie. What can I get for you today?

Charlie glances at the menu. What do you recommend, Karen? Not waiting for her reply, Charlie adds, You sure have the prettiest red hair and the most radiant blue eyes I have ever seen.

Ignoring Charlie's last remark, Karen says, The special today is, buy one pizza with eight toppings at the regular price and get the second one free.

Well, if I order that, I am going to need help eating the second one. If I order the two pizzas, will you help me eat them?

Karen looks at Charlie and says bluntly, No. My boss won't let me eat here with any of the customers. Besides, customers don't eat here; it's takeout only.

Charlie smiles pleasantly. What time do you get off? I'll save the pizzas for then. We could go over to my house and have dinner together.

She responds flatly, No thanks, Mr. Delaney. I have a boyfriend, and I don't think he would like that.

What he doesn't know won't hurt him.

No, thank you. I'm not that kind of girl.

Realizing that she took it the wrong way, Charlie replies, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. Since this is the first time I have met you, I shouldn't behave so boldly. It's just that you are so pretty.

Karen smiles. Well, have you made up your mind what you want?

Yes, I'll have a medium pepperoni pizza with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers, please.

Okay. That will take about fifteen minutes.

Oh boy! I get to talk to you for fifteen whole minutes.

Not quite. I have work to do in the back when there aren't any customers to wait on.

What do I look like, a scarecrow?

But you have already been waited on, sir.

What's this 'sir' talk? Please call me Charlie.

Charlie's sad expression draws Karen's attention.

Okay, Charlie. Sorry ... I forgot. My boss likes me to stay busy.

I understand. Could you tell me something before you leave, Karen?

Yes.

How old are you?

I'm nineteen.

I am twenty-six. Matter of fact, I turned twenty-six just last week.

Karen turns around and goes into the back without giving Charlie a response. He finds a seat and sits down. About five minutes later, Karen walks to the front again. Her eyes meet Charlie's, and they smile at each other. Karen shyly turns away, returning to the back again. Charlie continues to stare at the scrumptious teenager. He can't get over how beautiful she is.

So, if you're nineteen, you must have just graduated from high school.

Still in the back, Karen answers, Yes, that's right. I graduated last summer.

Are you going to college anywhere?

No. The main reason I'm not going to college is the money; besides, I don't know what I want to be anyway.

Charlie, staring at her large, full breasts, says, Yeah, I know. It's a big decision.

I'll probably have decided by this time next year. Maybe I'll have enough money saved up by then.

Don't your folks help out any?

My mama can't help out much. It takes all she makes to pay the bills.

What about your father?

My father is dead. He died in Vietnam when I was a little girl.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Yeah ... that's the way it goes. Karen returns to the front as she says this, her young happy face now looking sad and depressed.

Charlie notices this and doesn't say anything else in response.

As Charlie and Karen continue to talk, customers start coming in the door. Charlie doesn't get to talk to Karen for much longer because of the other people. Before long, Charlie's pizza is ready.

Karen takes it from the back counter and gets Charlie's attention with her sweet-sounding voice. Charlie, your pizza is ready.

He gets up, walks over to the cash register, and pays for the pizza. Giving Karen a wink, he says, See you later, Cubby.

Why did you call me that?

Charlie grins sweetly. You just look like a Cubby, so I thought I would start calling you that.

She just shakes her head, a puzzled look on her face. Bye-bye.

Charlie looks at her with admiration. See you tomorrow, Karen. Same time, same place. He winks at her again, takes his pizza, and leaves the place happily, with a big cheerful grin on his face.

As Charlie gets to his truck, he realizes something wonderful has happened. Cupid has shot another arrow at him. It was love at first sight. Charlie just can't get over how pretty Karen is. She is young and sexy and has the voice of an angel. She is as pretty as a girl could possibly be. Charlie can't believe how attracted he is to this girl. He can't seem to get her out of his mind.

When he gets home, he takes the pizza inside the house and begins to eat it. He finishes half of it and then puts the rest in the freezer.

Charlie tells himself, When Karen and I get married and have a few kids, I'll have something to show them: the very first pizza she brought to me. While Charlie relaxes in his living room, he continues to think about Karen. The more he thinks about her, the fonder he becomes of her. I wonder if she will go out with me. She mentioned a boyfriend. I wonder if it is a serious relationship. When I go by there tomorrow, I'll have to find out how serious she is about him. He is the only thing in my way.

Charlie thinks more about what he wants to say to his redheaded sweetheart tomorrow. He is somewhat controlled by this girl. She has a special mysterious something about her that pulls at him with a strange magnetic force. His mind seems to be filled with a special joy and happiness. He realizes that she is someone very special, not just another attractive girl that he has found but someone with a purpose for him.

While lying in bed, Charlie says out loud, She has the smile of an angel. Her eyes are as radiant as two blue sapphires glistening with innocence. Her sweetness could only belong to a virgin. Oh, how wonderful it would be if she were a virgin, pure as snow on a mountaintop. Maybe that is why she has taken over my heart so easily and so soon. I wonder how I could find out if she is one without asking her. Maybe I could lead up to it gradually so it won't look so obvious. I don't know ... she is so beautiful. I hope she will go out with me. It will break my heart if she doesn't. All I know is I will have to wait till tomorrow to find out.

Charlie looks up to the ceiling and says a little prayer. Dear God in heaven, if it be your will, please let our relationship develop into a true and long-lasting one. Let her see me as the new love in her life. Give me the strength and the knowledge to say the right things to her. I know I haven't prayed to you in a long time; therefore, please, if it be your will, grant me this request. Amen.

Charlie rolls over and goes to sleep. But he doesn't sleep very well at all. He keeps tossing and turning and waking up all through the night. He has brief dreams of his new redheaded love.

The night goes by slowly, but the sun finally comes up. Charlie feels tired and run-down when he gets up in the morning. He decides not to go to work, so he calls in to take a vacation day.

This is no big deal for Charlie's employer, who just says, Okay. See you tomorrow morning.

After hanging up the phone, Charlie is glad he decided not to go to work today. Boy, if I went to work today, I don't think I could make it through the day. He decides to lie back down and sleep a few more hours before doing anything.

Soon, Charlie wakes up from his nap, feeling much more rested. He is eager to get started on his new and exciting endeavor: to find out more about this compelling red-haired girl. He opens the phone book and looks up all the people with the last name Thomas. As Charlie writes these names down, he remembers Karen telling him that her father died in Vietnam. He writes this information down also. He thinks about all the important information he wants to know about her so that when he speaks to her, he'll know what to ask.

At about four o'clock, Charlie gets into his truck and nervously makes his way to the little pizza place. He parks his truck close to the restaurant, gets out, and proceeds to walk inside. As Karen comes out from the back, he realizes that he is the only customer.

Karen sees Charlie and smiles innocently at him. She throws up her hand and says happily, Hello again. Back for another pizza, Mr. Charlie?

Charlie smiles. Yes, ma'am! I'm back for another one of your delicious pizzas, Miss Karen.

Tell me what you want on it.

I'll take a medium pepperoni pizza with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers, please.

Karen writes down the order and takes it to the back. In a few minutes, she comes to the front again. So how's everything going today, Charlie?

Charlie is happy that she has remembered to call him by his first name. So happy in fact that he forgets about the things he wanted to talk to her about.

Oh, everything is going just fine. I'm glad you are working today. I had a bad feeling you might not be here today.

Karen just smiles her sweet, innocent smile.

"By the way, how often do you work here anyway?

I work here five days a week, ten to five, and every other Saturday.

Seeing an opening and without any further delay, Charlie asks her if she'll be working this coming Saturday.

Karen shows a reluctant smile. No, not this week. I had last Saturday off, so this week is my time to work.

I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping you and I could go out for dinner this weekend.

Even if I were off, I wouldn't go out with you. I told you yesterday that I have a boyfriend, a very serious boyfriend. He and I have been going together since ninth grade.

Charlie's hopes of going out with her shatter like a piece of glass thrown against a brick wall. He looks as sad as a basset hound when he hears these words.

Seeing this look on Charlie's face, Karen says, Don't look so sad, Charlie. There are plenty of girls who would like to go out with a handsome guy like you.

These words lift Charlie's spirit somewhat, but he still feels down.

So you have been going with this guy since the ninth grade? he asks.

That's right, Karen says. He and I have been through some rough times these last five years.

Do you love him?

Karen blushes a little. Well ... I think so. I mean, sometimes I love him to death, but then there are times I don't want to be around him at all.

Charlie's eyes brighten. So you don't know for sure if you really love him?

Showing a determined look, Karen speaks with a clear voice. Let me put it this way, Charlie. I love him enough not to go out with anyone else.

Charlie realizes that she doesn't want to keep talking about this, so he decides to change the subject. Oh, I understand. You said yesterday that you just graduated from high school.

That's right. Last summer.

Charlie grins. Well, if you ever do decide to go to college, you ought to take up drama; you sure would make a pretty actress. All you would have to do is smile and say a few lines, and you would be making millions of dollars a year.

This seems to be just what Karen wanted to hear.

With an excited grin, she says, Really! You think I would make a good actress?

Sure do. If I knew you were going to be in a movie, I'd come and see you.

Well ... thank you, Charlie. You know something---I always wanted to be an actress.

Charlie sees how happy he has made her, so he decides to lay on a few more compliments.

Can you sing?

A little bit but not much. I'm kinda shy when it comes to singing in front of people.

Charlie gazes into her enticing blue eyes. I bet you can sing real well. You have a pleasant-sounding voice. Who knows---one day you might even be a star.

Karen smiles joyfully, blushes a little, and says, I doubt that, Charlie.

You might even drive one of those fancy, expensive cars one day.

Oh, I don't know about that.

What kind of car do you drive now?

Oh, just a simple little red Mustang. She points outside at the little red car parked two cars down from where his truck is parked. Charlie smiles gladly as he sees the red automobile out in the parking lot. He had gotten what he wanted: to know which car was Karen's.

Before long, Charlie's pizza is done. As he pays Karen for it, he smiles at her sweet face. He doesn't go on again about taking her out.

Would it be all right if I come by and talk to you some more sometime?

Yes, that will be all right with me, Charlie.

So Charlie leaves the establishment, with pizza in hand and ideas in mind.

Charlie walks toward his truck while casually looking at Karen's little red Mustang. He puts his pizza inside his truck, starts it up, and drives around the parking lot of the shopping center, circling back around to where Karen's car is. Taking out a pen, he writes down her license plate number. He now has all the information about Karen that he needs.

As he drives home, all kinds of ideas flood Charlie's mind. First of all, he needs to find out where Karen lives and who her boyfriend is. Now that he has her license plate number, it will be only a matter of time before he gets the other information. Until now, Charlie's life has seemed dull and simple. He needs a little more excitement and a rousing new adventure. Knowing anything worth having won't be easy to get, he is determined to win over Karen and gain her affection. Charlie wouldn't care if Karen had been going with her boyfriend since kindergarten. He wants her so badly that he isn't going to let anything interfere with his objective, and that is to have Karen as his girlfriend.

As Charlie pulls up to his driveway, he wonders how to go about getting the information about Karen. He thinks for a moment and then unlocks his front door and walks inside his house. He walks straight to the phone book, setting the pizza on the counter as he turns the pages. He looks in the yellow pages for a private investigator, one that looks very professional. He then calls the number. The first time he calls, the number is busy. In a few minutes, Charlie tries again.

This time, a woman answers. Hello. Bowman Investigations. May I help you?

Charlie's mind goes blank but only for a few seconds.

Hello. My name is Charlie Delaney. I was wondering if you could help me find some information on someone.

You called the right place, Mr. Delaney. That's just what we do.

Charlie starts to relax as the woman continues to speak.

Would you like to come in and talk with Mr. Bowman? He would be glad to help you, sir.

Charlie shyly replies, I sure would, Miss ... Miss ... oh, by the way, who am I speaking with?

My name is Nancy Walker. I'm Mr. Bowman's secretary and special assistant.

Charlie pauses for a few seconds while deciding what to do.

Yes, I would like to talk to Mr. Bowman personally, if it wouldn't be much trouble.

When would you like to come in, Mr. Delaney?

Oh, sometime late in the day tomorrow.

I'll put you down for tomorrow afternoon at four-thirty.

Fine. I'll see you then. Oh, by the way, how much does Mr. Bowman charge for his services?

Mr. Bowman charges about the same as most other investigation agencies. He would have to talk to you first before he could quote you a specific price.

Okay, but could you give me a general idea on something very simple?

Well, I believe his standard fee is two hundred dollars a day, plus expenses.

Charlie's heart suddenly stops beating. Two hundred dollars a day! Gosh, that seems to me to be a whole lot. Does he work by the hour? What I have in mind might not take a whole day.

Oh no, Mr. Bowman works strictly by the day. There is a minimum of one day. No matter how long he has to work on that day, he gets compensation for the whole day.

Charlie is bewildered, wondering if it will be worth it. But then he just thinks about how beautiful Karen is, with those radiant blue eyes and long luscious red hair.

Do you still want to talk with Mr. Bowman tomorrow, sir?

Charlie comes out of his trance and says, Yes, ma'am. I still want to talk with Mr. Bowman. I'll be there tomorrow at four-thirty sharp.

We will be looking for you tomorrow, Mr. Delaney. Mr. Bowman is a very qualified investigator. He has been in the business for twenty years.

Okay, I'll see him then.

We will be expecting you tomorrow at four-thirty, Mr. Delaney. Thank you so much for calling.

Thank you, Mrs. Walker.

After making the arrangements to see the private investigator, Charlie realizes that this little venture isn't going to be cheap. He accepts what he has to do with a positive frame of mind, prepared to pay for it at any cost.

The next day, as Charlie gets ready for work, he has a few second thoughts about going to see the investigator. He doesn't want to get his hopes up too high, but a voice deep down keeps pushing him on. He thinks to himself that he doesn't have anything else to live for. Karen means more to him than anything else, so Charlie talks himself into going.

After work, Charlie rushes to his truck and makes his way to the investigator's office. On the way, he stops at the bank to withdraw a few hundred dollars from his savings account. As Charlie walks up to the investigator's office, he begins to feel quite silly about the whole thing, but since he has gone this far, and just to satisfy his curiosity about Karen, he works up his courage and walks into the office.

Nancy Walker greets him as he walks through the door. Hello. May I help you, sir?

Yes, my name is Charlie Delaney. I have an appointment to see Mr. Bowman.

Yes, Mr. Delaney. Mr. Bowman will be right with you. Please have a seat, and I'll see if he is ready.

Thank you.

As Charlie takes a seat in the waiting room, he has more negative feelings about the whole matter. Before too long, Nancy comes back and escorts Charlie to Mr. Bowman's office. Charlie reluctantly follows her, now feeling quite timid.

Hello. You must be Mr. Delaney, says Mr. Bowman, greeting Charlie at the door to his office. How do you do, sir?

Oh, pretty good. How about yourself?

Fine, just fine. I couldn't be better. Mr. Bowman offers Charlie a seat, and Nancy exits, closing the door behind her as Charlie sits down.

Mr. Bowman sits down behind his desk.

My secretary has told me you want me to investigate a certain matter for you.

That's right. There is a certain girl I want to know a little more about, if it wouldn't be much trouble.

No trouble at all. Please tell me all about it.

I want to know more about a young lady named Karen Thomas. All I know about her is that she is nineteen years old, has gorgeous red hair and radiant blue eyes, works at Little Tony's Pizza, and drives a red Mustang. Also, I happen to be madly in love with her.

Showing a concerned look, Mr. Bowman says, You happen to be in love with her, you say.

Yes, sir. There's just something about her ... she has completely taken over my heart. I can't seem to get her out of my mind. All I know is I must find out all I can about her.

How long have you known this girl, Mr. Delaney?

Please call me Charlie. You make me nervous calling me Mr. Delaney.

Fine. How long have you known Miss or Mrs. Thomas?

It's Miss Karen Thomas. I met her only two days ago. She has a boyfriend, a very serious boyfriend. I want to know who he is and as much as possible about him.

What is the reason for all this, if you don't mind me asking?

Like I told you earlier, I can't explain it. I met her the day before yesterday, and I have really fallen for this girl something awful, sir. I must find out all about her so I can try to develop some type of relationship with her before her boyfriend marries her.

Nodding his head, Mr. Bowman replies, Oh, I see. You just want to know about her background.

Right. Simple stuff: just about where she lives, who her mother is---you know, general information. I have written down all the information I want to know. Charlie hands Mr. Bowman a sheet of paper with the notes he's written. But most of all, I want to know who her boyfriend is. Where he works, how much he earns, the places he goes---everything you can possibly find out.

What you are asking me to do might take a little time. It also might be a little expensive.

Charlie scratches his head, How little are you talking about?

I don't know how long it will take for me to gather this information, Charlie. My rate is two hundred dollars a day, plus expenses.

That's what your secretary told me yesterday. I don't want to sink much more than three or four hundred, at the most.

I see. What do you say I work on the case for a day or two and see what I come up with? If you want me to pursue the matter in greater detail, we can talk some more.

Charlie responds with a joyous smile. That sounds pretty good, Mr. Bowman. When can you start on the case?

I can start on the case tomorrow, if that will be all right with you.

That sounds just fine.

Now Mr. Bowman smiles too.

I have been doing this work for twenty years. It shouldn't take me too long to find out the information you want to know.

Mr. Bowman stands up and walks around his desk, and Charlie stands up too. The two men move closer together and shake hands.

Mr. Delaney ... I'm sorry, Charlie ... don't get your hopes up on finding everything you want to know. Just be patient; I'll do the best job I can for you.

That's all I can ask, sir. That's all I can ask. Just do the best you can and I will surely and certainly appreciate it.

Mr. Bowman smiles again and says, Thank you, Charlie.

All the information I know about Miss Thomas is on that paper, even her license plate number. As I mentioned, she drives a red Mustang.

Mr. Bowman shows some interest. Fine. This will help a great deal. I have a buddy who works at the police department. He can find out where she lives and a whole bunch of other things.

I thought it might help. I'm glad she told me what kind of car she drives.

Oh yes. I'm glad she told you too, Charlie.

Just before Charlie leaves the office, Mr. Bowman says, Oh, by the way, I need to be paid for the first two days in advance.

Oh, I guess I should have known that. He reaches in his billfold, takes out four hundred-dollar bills, and hands the money to Mr. Bowman.

Mr. Bowman takes the money, writes out a receipt for four hundred dollars, and hands it to Charlie.

Charlie writes his name, address, and phone number on a piece of paper and hands it to Mr. Bowman. Here you go, Mr. Bowman. Give me a call when everything is in.

I sure will, Charlie. It sure is good doing business with you. Just wait a few days for my phone call.

Yes, sir. I will be waiting for my phone to ring.

Charlie departs Mr. Bowman's office, saying good-bye to Nancy on his way out. He gets in his truck and drives home. Knowing it's too close to the dinner rush to get to talk to Karen, he just sets his sights on seeing her tomorrow.

After work Thursday afternoon, Charlie drives over to the little pizza place once again. He spots Karen's little red Mustang in the parking lot and pulls into a spot nearby. Not wasting any time, he anxiously walks up to the door of the restaurant, walks in, and spots his luscious little redhead right behind the counter.

Hi, Karen. How are you doing today?

Just fine, Charlie. How are you doing?

Life couldn't be any better now that I have seen you again.

Oh, I wouldn't go that far. I didn't see you yesterday, so I thought you wouldn't be back.

Charlie is glad to hear that Karen missed him and has been thinking about him. He grins from ear to ear. Yeah, I missed you yesterday too. I'll have to stay twice as long today to make up for it.

Karen smiles intriguingly when she hears Charlie's words. She looks so breathtaking today. Her long red hair is styled just right. Her luminous blue eyes sparkle as her cute smile floods the room with a sweet array of beauty. She is a picture of loveliness.

Charlie can't believe that there is such a beautiful girl in the whole world. His heart is full of joy and happiness as he gazes at the young damsel. Karen seems to like him a whole lot. He can tell by just looking into her tender and caring eyes.

Charlie steps right up to the counter, and without another second passing, tells her exactly what he is thinking. This is the first time he's ever done this with a girl.

You know, Karen, you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my entire life. His voice is soft, and his words are true.

Thank you, Charlie.

Your long red hair is so silky and straight. No woman on earth has the same spectacular style as you have. It highlights your entire face with a beauty I have never seen before.

Karen blushes. Well, thank you again, Charlie. You keep this up, and I'll have to give my boyfriend his walking papers.

Charlie's heart grows three inches as her words reach his ears. He responds with enthusiasm and fervor. Really! Do you really mean that, Karen?

Realizing that Charlie took her seriously, Karen quickly replies, I was just kidding, Charlie. I would never do that to him.

Charlie's hopes rush back down, but he has reason to believe that she has her doubts about this boyfriend.

You told me you have been going with him since the ninth grade, he says.

That's right, Charlie. It has been over five years now.

Haven't you ever thought about dating anybody else? Just to see if you really love him, I mean.

Karen looks down at the floor as she speaks. Well ... maybe ... I don't know. Maybe ... Sometimes ... I don't know.

Charlie smiles. Sounds like you're not certain on that subject.

Well, we talked about it, but we have agreed that neither one of us will start seeing anyone else.

So, if you see him with another girl, you might dump him?

Now wait a minute! I didn't say that. That's enough about that now.

Charlie gazes into Karen's eyes, realizing once again that she doesn't want to keep talking about this subject. He understands; however, her words and actions tell him that if she ever caught her boyfriend out with another girl, she might just cut him loose. Charlie thinks that this might be the way to get him out of Karen's life. The way Karen pushed her lips out when Charlie brought up the subject of seeing her boyfriend with another girl gives him the impression she wouldn't stand for that.

You know, Karen, I find it easy to talk to you. I mean, I can open up to you a lot easier than I can with any other girl I've ever known.

You know something, Charlie, I find it easy to talk to you also.

I'm glad I met you. You really seem to be a sweet girl.

Well, thank you, Charlie. I'm glad I met you too.

Customers start to come into the restaurant, so Charlie doesn't get to talk to Karen for too much longer. He wishes he could talk to her without any interruptions or interference.

As Karen finishes with her last customer, she asks, Oh, by the way, Charlie, do you want anything to eat?

Although not really hungry, Charlie answers, Yes, I'll take my usual: a medium pepperoni pizza with mushrooms, onions and green peppers.

You sure like pizza, Charlie.

Customers start rolling in, two and three at a time. Karen focuses on taking orders from the customers. Charlie just gets to look at her until his pizza is ready.

Charlie, your pizza is done.

He walks over to the counter, pays Karen, and then whispers to her, I wish everyone would decide to eat at Pizza Hut so I could talk to you more.

Karen grins as she gives him his change. If they all did that, Charlie, I wouldn't have a job for very long.

Yeah, I guess you are right. See you tomorrow, Karen.

So long, Charlie. You behave yourself.

I will. You do the same.

As Charlie carries his pizza out to his truck, he feels happy and content, even though he wishes he could have talked to Karen a little longer. He drives home, thinking to himself, You know, Charlie ole' boy, trying to talk to Karen at the pizza place is becoming very frustrating. Every time we start talking, a customer walks in and gets in the way. I'm going to have to ask her if I could start calling her at home. I know she'll say no; but, then again, she might say yes. It will be worth a try anyway. And if she does say no, I'm going to have to find some other way to talk to her without all those interruptions.

Charlie goes home and devours the whole pizza in a very short time. For someone who said he wasn't very hungry, he sure ate as if he was. He has begun to like eating pizza every day. He doesn't have much choice; that is, if he wants to keep seeing Karen.

He has started to believe that Karen is beginning to like him more and more. She is coming around quite nicely. I wonder if she really is in love with her boyfriend. I wonder what she would do if she caught him with another girl. I bet she would hit the roof. I bet she would dump him cold.

With that thought, Charlie begins to plot how he could make that happen without Karen knowing that he had arranged it. He thinks over in his mind the things he wants to say to her when he sees her tomorrow, and he doesn't waste any unnecessary time. He understands plainly that he hasn't much time to talk to her, so he must have quality conversations ready when he arrives. The main objective is to tell her everything she wants to hear.

In the meantime, Charlie he decides to do all those things he has been putting off: doing laundry, opening his mail, sending off all those bills, washing the dishes, and completing all his normal household chores. This keeps Charlie busy. With his mind occupied, Karen doesn't become an obsession for him.

That's something he hopes doesn't happen. He loves her and he wants to have her, but if it's not in the stars, then Charlie doesn't want to set himself up for a big disappointment. He says aloud to himself, I must accept what happens and not let my emotions ruin my life. If worse comes to worst, I must accept that. If she chooses someone else, I must be man enough to take it in stride and not let it get me down. I haven't always gotten what I want in life, so I should accept whatever happens. Karen will decide what she wants.

Before long, Charlie feels tired and gets ready for bed, worn out from all of the work he has done. He soon falls asleep and begins to dream a very strange dream.

In the dream, Charlie is walking down a long, black, dreary road. He sees Karen smiling and waving at him. Beside Karen is her boyfriend. He is laughing at Charlie. As Charlie keeps walking, he spots Mr. Bowman hiding behind a bush and writing something in his notepad. Charlie hears Karen's boyfriend laugh louder and louder. All of a sudden, Karen starts to scream hysterically. Charlie looks at her boyfriend and realizes that he is dead.

Mr. Bowman shot Karen's boyfriend in the back. Mr. Bowman runs over to Charlie and asks him for four hundred dollars. Charlie hands the money to Mr. Bowman who then departs the scene.

Karen runs over to Charlie.

Charlie, come quick! He's dead ... he's dead. My boyfriend is dead! Please come!

Charlie follows Karen.

She points to where her boyfriend lies in a pool of blood. Charlie! Who could have done this? Karen screams. Who would ever do this to my boyfriend? Who, Charlie? Who could do such a thing!

Karen starts to cry, and then she gives Charlie a horrified look.

Confused, Charlie stares at Karen's frightened face. I don't know, Karen. I don't know who would do such a thing.

Just then, Karen's boyfriend jumps up. You killed me, Charlie, he says in a scary way. You killed me.

This gives Charlie a fright. He feels his hair standing on end.

He looks at the scary-looking guy and cries out, Go away! Go away! Stay away from me! Go away! Charlie sees that Karen's boyfriend keeps walking toward him anyway. The man's facial expression is full of evil and ugliness.

The scary sight of the man's face wakes Charlie with a fright.

Leave me alone! Charlie cries out, now awake and in a cold sweat. His breathing is fast and uncontrolled. He now realizes he has had a terrible nightmare. The clock on the bedside table registers 3:00 a.m. It takes Charlie a while to settle down from his fright, but he soon he gets control of himself. He hasn't had a nightmare like that one in a long time. Charlie lies awake for a long time. He thinks about what happened in the dream, but then, like everyone who has ever had a nightmare, he soon forgets all about it and what it was about. About an hour later, Charlie falls back to sleep; he doesn't wake up until his alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. It is time to start another day.

In the morning, Charlie tries to remember what the nightmare was about, but he soon forgets it---except the part that scared the hell out of him. He remembers how Karen's boyfriend got up from the ground and looked at him with that evil, sinister expression. Charlie doesn't have to think hard to remember him saying, You killed me, Charlie. You killed me.

Soon Charlie is dressed and on his way to work. It doesn't take him long to get there. As he pulls into his parking space, he thinks, I wonder how Mr. Bowman is doing. I sure hope he finds some information I can use.

Charlie then hurries inside, feeling a peculiar sort of nervousness. Before he knows it, it's time to go home. Charlie waits for the whistle to sound, and then he rushes out to his truck.

He gets